Date: 30 May 2019
Triple Sec Mango
By Onika Amell, tropical plant specialist
Q: I live in Mesa, Arizona. I am considering purchasing two of you Triple Sec Mango trees. Can you please give me some information on this variety and how to grow it successfully here in hot and arid Arizona, if at all?
A: Triple Sec Mango is a new name for the superior variety Seacrest. The
aroma of this fruit resembles Triple Sec - an orange liqueur. It's a juicy,
mid-season variety that has good disease resistance.
Mango has pretty good heat and drought tolerance. It loves sun, but there
are a lot of factors to consider when growing Mango in your area.
Check your soil. Soil quality is always first and foremost: when you
live in an area of Arizona with
hardpan (extremely compacted desert soil) or caliche (layers of soil
cemented by calcium carbonate) you
will have to learn how to deal with such soil types. Amend the soil as
needed.
The best time to plant is spring or fall to give your Mango a chance to
get established before the really intense Summer heat starts. Alternatively,
protect the tree with a shade cloth. Tender, new growth will not stand a
chance unprotected, especially newly planted and/or young trees.
Mangoes are tropical and sensitive to frost and freeze damage. Young
trees especially will also need winter protection when temperatures go near or
below freezing. Always plant trees in a location where they will be protected
from cold wind. Consider staking your newly planted Mango trees for the
first year. It's never a bad idea to even stake during periods of high winds.
Make sure your planting site has very good drainage. Always use a good
quality mulch around your tree as it helps to trap moisture, keeping the
ground and the roots beneath it cool. Keep mulch a couple of inches from the
trunk of the tree. Avoid a location that gets full day sun. Morning sun,
afternoon shade is ideal. Give regular watering until the tree is established. Once
established, water only when the soil feels dry.
Fertilizer with a Mango-Food. A foliar spray of micronutrient solution is always
recommended during the active growing period. Use plant stimulants and microelements to improve cold hardiness and vigor.
See more info on growing mango in hot climate and container grown mangoes in Arizona.
Date: 19 Jul 2024
What is the best flowering shrub for a shady spot?
Aphelandra hartwegiana - Yellow Aphelandra
Aphelandra squarrosa - White Zebra Plant
Aphelandra sinclairiana - Panama Queen
Aphelandra x panamensis - Scarlet Candle
💐 What is the best flowering shrub for a shady spot?
- 🚩 Aphelandra is hands down one of the best solutions for a shade garden where you want to see more colors. It is a great addition to a collectible tropical butterfly garden, can grow into 4-5"tall bushy specimen. Tolerates both sun and shade.
- 🚩Aphelandras have beautiful lush foliage and showy, long terminal inflorescences throughout the warm season.
- 🚩These flowers are loved by hummingbirds.
- 🚩Aphelandra hartwegiana - Yellow Aphelandra. Yellow flowers emerge out of long orange stalks in the fall time. Pretty and unusual!
- 🚩Aphelandra squarrosa Dania (Snow White) - White Zebra Plant. It is also one of the best house plants, not only pretty because of its white-veined"Zebra"foliage, but also for the apical inflorescence with its beautiful yellow bracts.
- 🚩Aphelandra sinclairiana - Panama Queen, has extremely tropical look and fragrant flowers of unusual color combination: orange and pink.
- 🚩Aphelandra x panamensis - Scarlet Candle - a rare hybrid with bright red flowers
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
Panama Queen
How to grow Zebra in container?
🛒 Shop Aphelandras
#Butterfly_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Shade_Garden
🏵 TopTropicals
Date: 30 May 2024
Attention grabber: swollen trunk, giant leaves, and flowers just like corals! A must for bonsai collection
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant flowers
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant leaves
Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant caudex
- ♥️ Jatropha podagrica: commonly known as the Gout Plant, this plant is a true attention grabber and a must-have in any container garden, as well as in succulent or bonsai plant collection.
- ♥️ Features a distinctive bottle-like caudex and surprisingly large tropical leaves up to 10-12 inches in diameter. Just like you saw in Adeniums.
- ♥️ Thrives in the shade, where its leaves grow even larger.
- ♥️ Perfect for natural bonsai and makes an excellent potted plant or conversation piece in a small garden.
- ♥️ Grows only 2-3 feet high, with a knobby, swollen stem and eye-catching, coral-like red flowers in large terminal clusters.
- ♥️ Prefers partial sun and well-drained soil, and is very drought-tolerant.
- ♥️ Easy to care for, adding exotic flair and intrigue to any plant collection.
🛒 Shop Gout plant
#Container_Garden #Nature_Wonders #Shade_Garden
🏵 TopTropicals
Date: 16 Oct 2024
Do you love Hibiscus? This one is exceptional!
Hibiscus El Capitolio Bloody Mary
🌺 Do you love Hibiscus? This one is exceptional!
- ❗️Looking for a show-stopper in your garden? Hibiscus El Capitolio Bloody Mary delivers with its rare, dramatic pendant flowers.
- ❗️Picture a double layer of ruffled, vinous-red petals hanging gracefully, adding vibrant color to sunny or semi-shady spots - even seaside gardens!
- ❗️This evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub can reach 5 to 10 feet tall with lovely arching branches, making it a true standout.
- ❗️Thriving in USDA Zones 9-11, it's tough enough to handle moderate water, flooding, and needs well-draining soil.
- ❗️Its crimson blooms peak in summer, bringing year-round beauty to any garden!
- ❗️This is a large Hibiscus plant; however, it can be grown in container with some pruning.
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
- 💋Most useful Hibiscus plants
- 💋How to get rid of pests on Hibiscus?
- 💋Skeleton Hibiscus with "crazy petals" - flower will blow your mind
🛒 Shop Hibiscus plants
#Hedges_with_benefits
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 23 Nov 2024
What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter
Philippine violet (Barleria cristata)
⭐️ What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter
- 🍬 Philippine violet (Barleria cristata) - is a blooming star for a shade garden! It is a cheerful, fuss-free shrub that can brighten up shady spots with its trumpet-shaped flowers.
- 🍬 Standing about 3-4 feet tall, it fits perfectly as a hedge or can be trimmed into neat shapes for a tidy look.
- 🍬 Its flowers, in lovely shades of lilac purple, mauve, white, or even striped, burst into clusters from November to mid-December, adding a pop of color when many plants take a rest.
- 🍬 Each flower lasts a couple of days, only to be replaced by fresh blooms from its many buds. The fallen petals create a gorgeous purple blanket around the plant, making it a visual treat even on the ground.
- 🍬 This plant thrives in both sun and full shade! It doesn't ask for much - just a little pruning now and then to keep it bushy and happy.
- 🍬 Add this eye candy to your shade garden, and let these Winter flowers steal the show!
- 🍬 Philippine violet is also a perfect exotic plant for container culture or even an indoor collection.
🛒Shop Barleria varieties
#Hedges_with_benefits #Container_Garden
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